[Horde] Chapter Five: Session Thirty-Eight
Appearing Characters: Altruis Shadowsong, Anice Erona, Arthak Saurfang, Dabu, Erasmus Moonblade, Gramgun Laughingeye, Kilnar Goldensword, Leasan, Levia Blackflight, Nallorath Evershield, Nethrandamus, Nyxxa Murkthorn, Rak'Symma, Runas, Sol'chi, Syrenne Vultreth, Tae'shara Bloodwatcher, Thalyssra Dusklily, Velameestra Windrunner (Simulacrum), Zar'Kaa, Zug
November 30th
The group finished up their dealings at the Cliffclutch Roost, including trading for some poisons. Many of them also tried the cliffthorn out of curiosity, and Rak’Symma spent some time chatting with Leasen before they left. Rak’Symma shared a parting aviani prayer with them, and they didn’t really seem to know what to do in response to the gesture.
Rak’Symma turned away with a small smile for them all to head off. They shifted back into their cloud forms, and Leasen breathed a repeat of the first line of the prayer, somewhat incredulous.
They started to fly down, rapidly descending from the mountains. Beneath them was a late autumnal countryside. There were some old, abandoned settlements, as well as some hidden amongst the trees that may have still been in use near the edge of the kaldorei territory. They heard the sound of wings flying near the group of moving clouds, and a fairly sizable beast soared by carrying an elk in its beak. It had mottled brown and black feathers, and it swooped down and landed on the cliffs, near where several young kits emerged. The creature had almost owl-like features, but it also had four clawed legs and wings that looked almost feline, and a pair of antlers. It was an owlcat, though no one in the group had seen anything like it before.
Rak’Symma recalled old stories from Blaithe that spoke of some of his compatriots. One of them was a story about a great spirit, which was said to have the face of an owl and the body of a cat. He referred to the creature as the moon spirit, Ela’lothen. Rak’Symma relayed the story over the telepathic bond.
They continued flying, and during a brief break, Zar’Kaa approached Arthak with the answer he had gotten from Gul’dan.
Arthak nodded.
Meanwhile, Vel had approached Rak’Symma and expressed that her magic was very impressive. The harpy had been examining a bush, and her feathers raised in surprise as she looked over her shoulder.
Rak’Symma looked quite confused and blinked at her, and Vel also stared back in silence as they too hit the point of them both realizing they were somewhat socially awkward introverts.
Symma’s feathers lowered with a quiet, anxious exhale.
There was another awkward pause.
Symma popped one of the berries she had found into her mouth.
Arthak was studying the map and looking around, he felt a sensation of safety coming from the place, but he wasn’t sure what it meant beyond that. He mentioned to the group a spot he had noted might be a place to check out.
Nyxxa approached him and mentioned he said he had thoughts later about her blades, and she wanted to know what they were. He explained they were her weapons, and it was not his place to say what to do with them.
Nyxxa nodded.
As they set off to reach their starting location and begin their search, Altruis informed them they were getting close to the region where he had found the device, and where the sightings were at. Various Cliffclutch harpy scouts had also arrived to help search, and Altruis said it would be best to be as quiet as they could. Zar’Kaa asked him if there were any obvious signs they left behind, and Altruis admitted that he didn’t know much anymore, as he had only known them 10,000 years ago. He knew Thalyssra was a powerful mage before, so he could only imagine that she’s gotten more powerful since.
Vel mused that Thalyssra had ultimately put a portion of her magic into the artifact she had left her message in, and magic could theoretically be tracked sympathetically–especially as they had the artifact with them. She explained that she and some of her other companions had done something similar in the past, and the more people that could actively see magic, the better their chances were.
Runas also said that it wouldn’t hurt if they picked up any mana crystals they found.
Runas plucked a lavender crystal from the side of a tree.
Arthak suggested that they lean on Farodin as a backup or a chance contact while focusing on finding their target. Altruis said he could guide them to the vale, and Zar’Kaa said he had something that could help them. He conjured a cloud of shadow with an incantation in Zandali, and he blew it over the group, using [Pass without Trace]. Vel regarded him curiously, as the magic was new.
The first thing they noticed as they crept by Ambervale was that there were withered elves everywhere. A group of about a half dozen withered suddenly ran through a glade, and they heard loud crashing noises. The group ducked down, and there was a massive giant that marched through the trees. They heard twin laughs, and they saw a two headed creature lumber through the clearing, shouting for the elves to run. The group wasn’t noticed.
A small distance away, they managed to get to the vale Altruis found. Rak’Symma crouched down and used [Commune with Nature]. Around them was a grove of wisteria-like trees in beautiful oranges. Around them were crumbling highborne ruins. Those that were able quick used [Detect Magic] to start sweeping around the area.
Rak’Symma felt the presence of the people all over the area. There were groups wandering hungrily in many areas, and there were zones that were both more concentrated and less concentrated. She also sensed four other groups of people. The first and closest was about a mile and a half east, and it contained about a dozen people that were stationary. Two others were moving around in a sort of pattern. The fourth group was moving slower than the others. And then there were several other groups of three or less people, with one figure that was moving faster and more erratically than all of the others. The last area was a suspiciously quiet spot.
Rak’Symma relayed that first bit of information.
Nyxxa agreed, and Rak’Symma opted to try and find minerals in the area as well, as the mana crystal deposits were useful to know. Symma rapidly realized the entire forest was covered in the crystals. They were technically minerals, but the way they were speckled reminded her more of moss or fungus, as if the mana of the region naturally coalesced. But they were also concentrated in specific areas. One of the clusters was right near the stationary group, and near the quiet place.
She also noted that, within three miles, there was a brief blip on the southern edge of her perceptions that indicated a powerful fiend, but then it was gone. However, she also sensed several minerals that were moving, and the sense she got was that they were imps and wyrmtongues scavenging them.
The magic faded, and Rak’Symma expressed that she hoped the divination was useful.
Arthak and Vel mused that the small groups may have been smaller scouting groups of nightborne scouts, and Arthak said the actual pattern groups were likely the formal patrols that the smaller scouting groups were reporting back to. The group moving slower was likely not withered or nightborne, but it could be another group of nightfallen or perhaps the Reliquary group that had been heading in the area. It also felt like the erratic figure was likely what the military forces were closing in on.
They decided to divide and conquer.
They decided to split up, one group going to investigate the erratic runner, and the other to the mysterious quiet place. Nyxxa, Vel, and Levia opted to pursue the erratic figure while the others went to the quiet place.
Vel shifted into her raven form, and Rak’Symma’s head snapped curiously over to the pretty white bird. They set off, while the other group started to navigate around the patrols toward the quiet place.
Nyxxa’s group headed in the direction of the figure. Nyxxa disguised herself as a night elf, and between Vel and Nyxxa using [Detect Magic] as well as the artifact, they managed to get a trail. They heard two nightborne guards speaking, and Vel and Nyxxa were both able to get a gist of what was being said. They were working for someone.
Vel detected some faint evocation magic on them, and she noted their weapons seemed to be hilts with blades completely created with magic. Their helmets had visors, and she was able to determine they shed a permanent [Protective Penumbra] spell.
There was also a small green and violet lily made of pure magic under a bush. Nyxxa saw it with her true sight, and Levia saw it while touching the artifact. Vel did not, but when she put a talon on the artifact, she did. And she identified the lily as a thought strand. Vel explained what it was, and said that if someone touched it, they could read the memory.
Nyxxa used [Invisibility] and snagged the thought strand. She returned to the group and they snuck away. Vel offered to activate it, as she could duplicate the memory with the spell if it was an isolated transmission. She activated it, but it relayed a small projection.
She winced and dropped down to one knee. She was wounded severely in her side.
She dismissed the message, and Nyxxa relayed the information across the telepathic link. They continued to follow the magic trail. It was starting to get more erratic and harder to follow. They crept through the underbrush and passed through some of the mana crystals. They came upon a path through the ruins, and they saw two more guards. They were bent over the bodies of three withered that had just been slain, and there was another flower nearby.
Nyxxa tried to sneak over to snag the flower. The guards were talking about how they believed the withered had been slain by “her”. They reported back via a sending stone in their gauntlet.
The second nightborne adjusted their visor and said he was going to go scout the area. They started to cast [Detect Magic] to scope the area, but they were unable to notice Nyxxa as she slipped in and grabbed the flower scarcely a few feet from the occupied guard.
The guards said they needed to lock down the location, and another sending was sent to a different patrol group to scout out the area. The trio got back to a safe spot and activated the second thought strand. Again, the image showed up.
Thalyssra had conjured a high level [Arcane Missile], and she had blasted several withered. She reached for a flask at her side, and she took a swig. She finished whatever was in it, but she then cursed.
They picked up their pace, and continued to pursue the magic trail they were able to sense. Nyxxa found some blood, and they saw evidence of a large group of people moving through the area. Most of them were humanoid, but some of them were the tracks of sabers. They entered a clearing, and they saw something peculiar there. There was a group of six nightborne and a nightsaber, but it was unlike one Nyxxa had ever seen. Its fur was a deep violet, and underneath its fur were streams of bright markings that glowed with magic. Its tail glowed with the same aura. There were a handful of mages and other warriors.
Levia squinted. The group was armed and armored, one of them mid-air ready to come down on its prey. They were able to tell there was a powerful transmutation spell faintly visible in a globe around the attack group. To the side, there was another lily near a cluster of crystals. Nyxxa hurried in and grabbed the lily.
The man in the sphere seemed to be of a higher rank than the others. He might have been the missing Second Blade. Vel blinked, as she recognized the spell as a [Time Stop], but it lasted for far longer than it should.
But then they heard the sound of something coming, and the hum of arcane magic. They had seconds to hide. The group darted back to the trees. Levia tripped on the side of a crystal, and cursed, then dove behind some old ruins. A 16-foot tall thing moved its way through the trees. It was an arcane construct, and it stepped into the clearing. Behind it was another contingent of nightborne. Two of them were riding two more battle sabers.
The massive creature scanned the area with its massive gemstone eye.
A beam of energy struck into the globe of magic, and it was dispelled. The first thing they saw was the Second Blade slam his blade into the ground. He cursed. At that moment, one of the other spellbreakers turned and saw Levia right behind him.
She raised her hands, and one of the runesaber’s eyes darted to where Vel had hidden. Levia stepped out of the ruins and spoke in Thalassian. Erasmus pointed his sword at her.
Erasmus narrowed his eyes.
Nyxxa disguised herself as a normal satyr, then dropped from the tree.
Erasmus was clearly suspicious, and was moving toward Levia. A flicker of protectiveness arose in her voice, and also the trace of a bleat.
Levia said her name was Zaestra, and Nyxxa said her name was Vaerexxa. Erasmus snorted.
Erasmus nodded for the duo to leave, and Levia whistled for Vel to come to her, as she was simply her familiar. They disappeared into the woods. Vel noted that the blood trail she was able to make out appeared to be heading east. Nyxxa relayed to the group that they were going to head in that direction, which appeared to be the same direction as the quiet place.
Meanwhile, the other group had taken more of a roundabout route toward the quiet place. They got a good look at Felsoul Hold as they passed the ridge. As they crested the cliffs, Zar’Kaa happened to find a trap, but it wasn’t meant to snare a conventional humanoid. It seemed to be using mana crystals as bait, and it appeared to be of nightborne construction. It appeared it was set in hopes of capturing Thalyssra, nightfallen, or otherwise. It was well hidden, and it was mostly magical. There was a glyph, which would likely trigger a stasis. Rak’Symma sensed there was abjuration magic around it. Zar’Kaa also suspected that the trap was keyed to whoever set it so they were alerted when it was triggered.
Through teamwork, Zar’Kaa was able to cross the circle and disrupt the spell without tripping the alarm and he was able to recover the diamond dust reagents.
Meanwhile, Rak’Symma spoke to some of the wildlife, and she found out a lot of birds had been forced to migrate out of the region as it was no longer safe. A lot of the common lifestyles of the wildlife had been disrupted. A lot of the trees had been cut, the land had been polluted, and there were terrifying monsters that had savaged creatures in the area. There were large flying creatures larger than they were, and they could devour them. It sounded like felbats.
Symma was visibly upset by the news.
She asked about any news the bird had about safe places, but the bird said there were no safe places. There was one walker that lived north of the valley that once traveled the valley, but has since only watched it, and he was good and lived around the area. They called him the vale walker, and he frequently fed them and was a friend.
Arthak tried to see if he could find an omen or any sign in the area that may have come from the earth. He was following a vision, so he was trying to find any further omens about the quiet place. He caught the glint of something out of the corner of his eye near the edge of the river. It was something magical, and it was a mana crystal. However, seeing it through the water sparked a memory. It was the deep chamber that Navarrogg had taken them to translocate. It was a convergence of leylines, and the crystals in the area seemed to be similar.
He mused the crystals might be getting purer as they approach, but there were no withered. The quiet place may have been a nexus for the arteries of the world, otherwise known as the leylines.
They headed upstream, and Arthak felt the pull of the quiet again from all around him. He looked around, but he didn’t see anything. There were just old cliffs. He looked around, searching for a sign for anything. Rak’Symma also looked around, and she sensed the whiff of magic. Some of it was abjuration, some of it was transmutation, and some of it was necromancy. Zar’Kaa noted there were no tracks in the area. Across the river and about a quarter of a mile away were three withered that were looking in their direction, and one stepped forward, but then shook its head and turned away. And that continued until they all scurried away. He also found some hidden writing in a language he did not understand, as well as some old ash, as if there had been a campfire there a few months ago.
Sol tried to describe the markings to Vel over the telepathic bond, who relayed that she believed the language was likely druidic, a secret tongue that druids used to leave messages for their fellows or other people that shared their tongue. It was ultimately a language, so if anyone had a means to magically comprehend languages, they should be able to read it. Sol commented he wondered who could possibly do that as he smuggly started to ritual cast [Comprehend Languages] to read the message.
Zar’Kaa started to ask how the hell she was able to know that, but ultimately caught himself, and instead they focused on trying to shift the evidence of a cave in they had noticed. Nethrandamus said he thought he could help, and he transformed into his dragon form then leaped into the air. He careened straight for the rocks, and teleported right through them.
He said he would help from the other side.
As Sol was ritual casting, the rest of the group was able to fully excavate what appeared to be a man made tunnel. It seemed to be of highborne origin. Sol informed them that the druidic said Shal’aran, or “Shadow Refuge” in the tongue of the druids.
At that moment, they got the telepathic messages about what had happened in the grove with the nightborne. Nyxxa, Vel, and Levia decided to try and find Thalyssra so that Sol could teleport them to Shal’aran, and the other group worked on re-disguising the entrance.
After a quick coordination over the telepathic bond, Levia was able to send Thalyssra with a note of the dusk lilies and the name Shal’aran, telling her to double back toward the time stop because they could get her out. Levia informed them that she said she would come.
The trio started to move, and Nyxxa and Vel both sensed they were being followed. But it wasn’t by the entire group. There was only a single rider on a mana saber. They sped up, and some of the harpy sentries tried to tranquilize the saber with blow dart guns. There was a growl of distress and the flinging of arrows in response, but then the saber tumbled to the ground and threw the rider from their seat, throwing them into the clearing.
The woman grit her teeth, seeing the group, but she then turned to check on her saber. She realized it wasn’t lethal poison, and then she looked back at the trio with a furrowed brow and then they lost sight of her.
They rounded a clearing, and they saw a figure rounding a tree. It was Thalyssra rushing toward them.
She shouted out and told them to get down. Moments later, one of the trees was broken aside. Another arcane sentinel came blasting through the glade with two more mages and spellbreakers as the other group that was moving converged. However, suddenly the sentinel slammed into the ground like a massive force of gravity compressed it.
Vel heard a familiar humming sound, and leaping from behind the figure was Kilnar Goldensword in the midst of a bladesong. She leaped up and buried the blade in a weak point in the golem. She twisted it, and several other figures jumped out, including Tae’shara who was concentrating on a force to hold the group down. Another figure darted forward and close-lined the figure. Zug and Dabu emerged, and Magistrix Anice Erona also arrived and used a powerful blast to shove the last two against a tree. Bones broke, and they crumpled to the ground.
Vel, still as a raven, blinked, and then jerked her head toward Thalyssra.
Over the telepathic bond, Vel told Sol to just gather all of them, and they were all teleported to the opening to Shal’aran.
The group waited in the hidden tunnel as the patrols fanned out. They were not far from where they were. They heard sounds of people walking around the area. But then they heard them start to move further, and further away.
Thalyssra turned to the group.
Vel took her humanoid form to make more formal introductions, but Kilnar and Arthak had already made eye contact.
